Topeka ? Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Friday called for approval of a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition at Kansas public universities.

Noting that waves of immigrants have advanced through education, Sebelius said: “It’s part of this great democracy, and to me it’s a pathway to the future.”

The measure was adopted last year in the House. This session it was amended and approved by the Senate.

Under the bill, students who are in the country illegally but have lived in Kansas for at least three years would be charged the lower, resident tuition rate at public universities, community colleges and vocational colleges. The Senate added a provision that the students would have to prove they are seeking citizenship or legal resident status.

The difference in resident tuition rates and out-of-state tuition rates keeps many illegal immigrants from attending college, minority advocacy groups say.

For example, 15 undergraduate hours at Kansas University this semester is $1,763 for residents and $5,501 for nonresidents.

House Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka, said the Senate changes were significant enough to warrant putting the bill back into a committee for more work.

“In many ways, it’s probably a better bill,” Mays said. “We need to take a look at it.”

Some supporters of the measure have said they sensed growing unease about the bill based on public sentiment against illegal immigrants.

But Sebelius said the legislation made sense.

“It’s difficult for me to figure out how we win in Kansas by denying anybody an avenue to a higher education,” she said. “The more skills we can provide, the more education that we can make sure that those new workers have going into the work force is going to be a boost for the economy.”